Taiwan: China urges Canada not to interfere 

China has called on Canada to abide by its “one-China principle” and not to interfere with its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The call comes amid plans by a delegation of Canadian parliamentarians to visit Taiwan later this year to explore trade opportunities.

“We urge the Canadian side to abide by the one-China principle and respect China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the Chinese embassy in Canada said in a statement.

“China will take resolute and forceful measures against any country that attempts to interfere with or infringe upon China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the embassy added.

China claims Taiwan as its territory under its “one-China principle” and objects to foreign politicians visiting the island.

Canada, like the rest of the West, follows a one-China policy that recognizes Beijing, not Taipei, diplomatically, while unofficially it supports Taiwan.

Also Read: Taiwan: China condemns Pelosi’s visit, launches military operation 

Canada’s government said in a statement that parliamentary associations and friendship groups are independent, and it respected the lawmakers’ intent to visit Taiwan.

Members of a Canada-Taiwan parliamentary “friendship group“, which does not receive administrative or financial support from the Canadian parliament, had been planning to visit the self-ruled island in October, Liberal Member of Parliament Judy Sgro said last week.

Sgro said the trip would focus on trade and the lawmaker’s intent was not to disrupt and cause problems for Taiwan or with China.

The relationship between China and the West has worsened since U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan earlier this month against Beijing’s wishes.

Zainab Sa’id